TODAY'S CUBS GAME: 4 - 3
I'm not exactly sure what to say about today's game. It was a cold day at Wrigley with the wind blowing in. The game itself was a yawner through eight, all of the action condensed into sloppy scoring during the second. Here, Mark Prior gave up his first hit of the game after bases were already loaded and this double from Victor Diaz drove in two runs. In the bottom of the second, Mets pitcher, Victor Zambrano, looked like a little leaguer, hitting a batter, balking runners forward, throwing a run scoring wild pitch, and walking Prior. The Cubs batted eight and scored thrice while recording only two hits.
In the ninth, things got interesting, but far from pleasant. Ryan Dempster came in to close the 3 - 2 game. In theory, I have no problem with this move, especially when I think back to those two games where he gave up only one run and was still charged with the loss. As a closer, it doesn't matter what your batters do, it's all about shutting down the other team. Of course, making the transition between starter and closer has got to be incredibly difficult and is almost certainly not an over night kind of thing. Thus, when Dempster gave up the tying run, I didn't hold it against him personally, I blamed myself. Always the f-ing optimist. Always the f-ing fool.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs almost answered back. They loaded the bases with only one out for Neifi Perez. Perez had a solid April and seemed a good man to play small ball for the win. And if he didn't get the job done? So what. Derrek Lee would just do what he's gotten so good at, get a clutch hit with two outs and runners in scoring position (had I already forgotten the curses I'd just launched at myself for f-ing optimism?). Of course the one thing Neifi Perez absolutely had to avoid: hitting into a double play. What he did: hit into a double play.
I had told myself that if the Cubs didn't score in the ninth, I would stop watching. That was an empty threat. Dempster stayed in for the top of the tenth. The Mets did not score.
In the bottom of the tenth, Derrek Lee came to the plate, and I tried to steady myself. It's gotten to the point that all my hopes for this team ride on his shoulders. If there's a runner in scoring position and we need a clutch hit, he's done it every time. But it's not fair to expect this man to turn into a superhero every time we need something great; he's entitled to be human if he has to be. But of course I hoped. Probably not a homerun (the wind was blowing in much too strongly), but maybe a lead off double. Hell, getting on base would be awesome.
Lee battled mightily. Full count. Foul ball, foul ball, foul ball. A pause as Piazza recovered from taking one in the shoulder. Foul ball. Crack of the bat. Derrek pausing to look up. The camera shifts to an outfield shot. I rise from the couch. Step closer to the television. The shot of right center zooms into the bleachers. Yes! A homerun. Hit directly into the face of the wind. Derrek Lee does it again. Fends off the Cloud of Doom for one more day.
Cubs win!
In the ninth, things got interesting, but far from pleasant. Ryan Dempster came in to close the 3 - 2 game. In theory, I have no problem with this move, especially when I think back to those two games where he gave up only one run and was still charged with the loss. As a closer, it doesn't matter what your batters do, it's all about shutting down the other team. Of course, making the transition between starter and closer has got to be incredibly difficult and is almost certainly not an over night kind of thing. Thus, when Dempster gave up the tying run, I didn't hold it against him personally, I blamed myself. Always the f-ing optimist. Always the f-ing fool.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs almost answered back. They loaded the bases with only one out for Neifi Perez. Perez had a solid April and seemed a good man to play small ball for the win. And if he didn't get the job done? So what. Derrek Lee would just do what he's gotten so good at, get a clutch hit with two outs and runners in scoring position (had I already forgotten the curses I'd just launched at myself for f-ing optimism?). Of course the one thing Neifi Perez absolutely had to avoid: hitting into a double play. What he did: hit into a double play.
I had told myself that if the Cubs didn't score in the ninth, I would stop watching. That was an empty threat. Dempster stayed in for the top of the tenth. The Mets did not score.
In the bottom of the tenth, Derrek Lee came to the plate, and I tried to steady myself. It's gotten to the point that all my hopes for this team ride on his shoulders. If there's a runner in scoring position and we need a clutch hit, he's done it every time. But it's not fair to expect this man to turn into a superhero every time we need something great; he's entitled to be human if he has to be. But of course I hoped. Probably not a homerun (the wind was blowing in much too strongly), but maybe a lead off double. Hell, getting on base would be awesome.
Lee battled mightily. Full count. Foul ball, foul ball, foul ball. A pause as Piazza recovered from taking one in the shoulder. Foul ball. Crack of the bat. Derrek pausing to look up. The camera shifts to an outfield shot. I rise from the couch. Step closer to the television. The shot of right center zooms into the bleachers. Yes! A homerun. Hit directly into the face of the wind. Derrek Lee does it again. Fends off the Cloud of Doom for one more day.
Cubs win!
posted by Erik at
11:45 PM
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